Girdle



Jan. 16,1962 M. c. FRIDOLPH GIRDLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 30, 1959 mayo: coA srmvc: Ate/004 PH BY W u M Jan. 16, 1962 M. c. FRIDOLPH 3,016,901

GIRDLE Filed April 30, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V EN TOR.

#74005 CONT/7A!!! I e/004p BYM N4 /4 w W atent fiice 3,016,901 Patented Jan. 16, 1962 3,016,901 GIRDLE Maude Constance Fridolph, 269 Crescent Bay Drive, Laguna Beach, Calif. Filed Apr. 30, 1959, Ser. No. 810,157 Claims. (Cl. 128- 548) This invention relates to a body garment and more particularly to the body garment commonly called a girdle.

In order to hold the abdomen in and to firmly control the thigh and buttock muscles of the wearer, a girdle must fit relatively snug throughout. A firm support and snug tension can be and is maintained in such garments from the waistline down to the hips or approximately the line across the widest part of the hips without discomfort to the wearer, but the necessary tension that must be maintained below the hips restricts the free leg movement of the wearer in the case of most girdles with which I am familiar.

In my prior United States Patent No. 2,445,322, dated July 20, 1948, I have disclosed a girdle construction which provides a snug fit and firm support and is fashioned with overlapping front panels which, in effect, increase the circumferential dimension of the girdle at its lower front edge without relaxing the support or the molding qualities of the girdle. The girdle of my prior patent also provides a firm support for the buttocks and a cradle-like support for the abdomen with a comfortable lift to the pelvic organs.

The type of support provided by the girdle of my prior patent was achieved primarily by the provision of overlapping front panels having upwardly inclined lower edges, the lower edge of the back of the girdle extending horizontally below the buttocks. With the construction shown in my prior patent, the two overlapping front panels provide a single sling or hammock for supporting both buttocks.

The girdle of the present invention is a further advance in this art in that it is fashioned to provide a firm support for each buttock with a comfortable lift to the pelvic organs at the front while at the same time eliminating the restriction around the lower edge of the girdle, which restriction is invariably present in girdles of conventional construction.

In addition, the girdle of the present invention provides a double sling or a double hammock action so that each buttock is supported independently of the other.

More specifically, the girdle of the present invention comprises a rear portion which includes two overlapping panels, the lower edges of which incline upwardly from the sides to the center of the rear portion and also a front portion fashioned with a vertically extending center seam with the lower edges of the front portion inclining upwardly from the sides of the garment to the lower end of the front center seam.

In addition, the girdle of the present invention is de signed so that its lower edges at the front and back portions of the girdle follow the natural line of the gluteal muscles around the thighs and across the buttocks of the wearer. By designing the girdle so that its lower .edges follow the natural line of the gluteal muscles, the

girdle can control the thigh line at a lower point than prior art girdles because across the front and across the back,

these lower edges incline upwardly to follow the muscle line and thereby provide freedom of movement.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a human torso showing the muscles controlled by the girdle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the torso shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front view of one form of girdle of this invention laid in the fiat.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the girdle illustrated in FIG. 3 illustrating the position it assumes when on the wearers body.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the girdle illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a modified form of girdle according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a rear view of a second modified form of girdle according to the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1 wherein a portion of the human torso is generally illustrated, the thigh and buttock muscles in this region of the body are controlled by the girdle of this invention to provide a snug fit with a comfortable uplift action and without circumferential restriction. In the torso illustrated, the gluteus maximus muscles which are designated 10 extend from a generally central location 12 well down on the thigh and substantially below the hip line upwardly across the buttocks 14 at the back. The gluteus muscles 16 extend from approximately the waistline at each side down along the hips where they merge with the tensor muscles 18 and the iliotibial band 20.

I have determined that if a girdle is designed to follow the contour of these muscles, and particularly the gluteus maximus muscles 10, a very firm and comfortable support is provided for the wearer without any restrictive effect. Thus, the girdle of my construction is shown in broken lines in FIGS. 1 and 2 to illustrate generally the outline thereof in relation to the contour of these muscles. The lower edges of the girdle of my construction extend upwardly from a low point 22 at each side of the wearer adjacent the lower end 12 of the muscles 10 upwardly along the lower line of the buttocks as at 24 to a high point 26 at the center back of the wearer just below the buttocks. 'Ihese lower edges of the girdle on the front side thereof extend upwardly from the low point 22 around the thighs along an upwardly inclined line 28 which terminates adjacent the public region and in a horizontal plane above the high point 26 at the center back of the wearer.

Furthermore, the girdle of this invention is constructed such that the gluteus muscles at each side are controlled independently of one another so as to enhance the freedom of movement while still providing the necessary uplift action to the abdominal region and the buttocks which provides the necessary support without producing discomfort.

The girdle illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 comprises a front portion 30 fashioned from panels 32 and 34 and a rear portion 36 fashioned from panels 38 and 40. The front panels 32 and 34 are similarly shaped and oppositely disposed and at the center front of the garment, are connected by the vertical seam 42. The front portion of the girdle is connected with the rear portion of the girdle along each side at the side seams 44 which, it will be observed, approximate in contour the hipline of the wearer. It will be noted that with the garment laid flat, the side seams 44 curve inwardly adjacent the lower portion of the girdle portions 12 of the gluteus maximus muscle 10.

so that the opening defined at the lower end of the girdle is of smaller cross section than the cross section of the girdle at the hip line.

The two panels 38 and 40 which form the rear portion of the girdle are likewise similarly shaped and oppositely disposed. Panel 40 extends from the side seam 44- at the right in FIG. to the inclined side edge 46, which edge is stitched to the exposed face of panel 38. Panel 38 extends from the side seam 44 at the left of FIG. 5 to the inclined side edge 48 which is stitched to the inner face of panel 40. Thus, the two rear panels are provided with overlapping portions 50, 52, the lower edges of which, designated 54, incline upwardly from the lower end of the side seam 44 and cross one another at the high point 56 at the center back of the girdle.

The lower edges 58 of the front panels 32, 34 likewise incline upwardly from the lower ends of the side seams 44 to the lower end, as at 60, of the vertical front center seam 42. The high point 60 of the lower edges 58 of the front panels is disposed above the cross-over high point 56 of the rear panels 38, 40. Thus, the lower edges 58 of the front panels incline upwardly at a slightly greater angle than the lower edges 54 of the rear panels. The panels 32, 34, 38, 40 are dimensioned such that when the girdle is on the wearer, the lower ends 62- of the side seams 44 are located adjacent the lower end The lower edges of these panels are contoured to generally follow the lowermost portions of the gluteus muscles 10, especially at the rear around the buttocks.

In the girdle shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, each panel is made from a single piece of fabric, preferably a oneway stretch, the direction of the weave and stretch being indicated by the arrows. With this construction, it will be observed that the girdle is provided with a right half section, which, when viewed from the front, comprises panels 34 and 38, and a left half section comprising panels 32 and 40. At the front, the lower portions of the two half sections are fulcrurned about the point 60; and at the rear, the lower portions of the two half sections are fulcrumed at the points 64, 68 which correspond to the lower ends of the stitch lines 46, 48. It will be observed that the lower edges 54, 58 are generally parallel with the weave lines or the direction of stretch of the material of the panels.

When on the wearer, the girdle illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 provides the necessary tension around the thighs and the buttocks of the wearer to provide a firm and snug support without restriction. The lower edges 54 of the rear panels 38, 40 follow the gluteal muscles at each hip to the high point 56 so as to provide a comfortable uplift to the thighs and buttocks. At the same time, the lower edges 58 of the front panels 32, 34 are out somewhat higher and extend from the low point 62 on each thigh to the high point 60 at the lower end of the center seam 42. This particular configuration of the lower edge portions of the girdle coupled with the double sling action afforded by the two independent half sections of the girdle provides the wearer with utmost comfort and freedom of movement without producing any substantial flatness across the buttocks. The overlapping rear panels in combination with the center seam 42 tend to support each buttock separately and with its natural contour.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 is similar in principle to the girdle illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. From the standpoint of construction, the girdle shown in FIG. 6 differs only slightly from the girdle previously described. In the girdle illustrated in FIG. 6, side panels 68 are provided and these side panels may be formed of a rigid or inelastic, as distinguished from a stretchable, material. However, if desired, side panels 68 may be formed from fabric having either a one-way or a two- Way stretch. Side panels 68 have arcuate edges 70, 72

stitched to the front and rear panels of the garment so that the girdle of FIG. 6 is generally of the same shape as the girdle previously described.

The rear panels 74, 76 are similar to the rear panels 38, 40 of the previous girdle described except that they are somewhat narrower because of the inclusion of the side panels 68. The front portion of the girdle in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 comprises four panels, two upper panels 78, 8t) and two lower panels 82, 84. It will be observed that the weave line or the line of stretch of the material of the upper panels 78, 80 is horizontal as indicated while the stretch or weave of the material of the lower panels 82, 84 is upwardly inclined parallel to the lower edges 86 of panels 82, 84. The upper and lower panels are stitched together at their upwardly inclined meeting edges as at 88 and the two half sections of the front portion of the girdle are connected together by the vertical center seam 90.

The girdle illustrated in FIG. 6 functions on the wearers body in substantially the same manner as the girdle illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. However, in view of the fact that the stretch in the upper front panels 78, 80 is horizontal rather than inclined upwardly towards the center, the panels 78, 80 tend to produce a somewhat greater flattening effect on the upper abdomen of the wearer. In other respects, the two girdles thus far described are substantially the same in their operation.

The form of girdle illustrated in FIG. 7 differs somewhat in its construction and operation from the two girdles previously described. The girdle illustrated in FIG. 7 has a front portion shown in broken lines and a rear portion shown in solid lines. These two portions are formed of similarly shaped panels comprising a pair of upper panels 92, 94 and a pair of lower panels 96, 98. Panels 92, 94 are connected together along a vertical central seam 100. The two upper panels of the front portion of the girdle are connected to the two upper panels of the rear portion of the girdle by side seams 102. The lower panels 96, 98 of both the front and rear portions of the girdle comprise bands which extend the full width of the girdle in overlapping, criss-cross relation.

The two panels 96 are stitched along their upper edges to the lower edges of the panels 92 as at 104 and to the panels 98 as at 106. The two panels 98 are stitched along their upper edges to the lower edges. of panels 94 as at 108 and to the inner face of panels 96 as at 110. The lower panels of the front portion and the rear portion of the girdle are connected together at the side edges of the girdle by side seams 112. As in the previous embodiments described, the side seams 112, when the girdle is positioned on the wearer, terminate at their lower ends as at the points 114 adjacent the lower edge portions 12 of the gluteus m-aximus muscles 10. The lower unconnected edges of the front panels 96, 98 in cline upwardly to an intersecting high point 116 and the lower edges of panels 96, 98 at the rear portion of the girdle incline upwardly to an intersecting high point 118 which is located in a plane slightly below the intersecting point 116 on the front portion of the girdle.

Thus, the four bands 96, 98 at the front and rear portions of the girdle are designed to provide an uplift action to the buttocks and to the abdomen as in the previous girdles described. However, it will be noted that in the girdle illustrated in FIG. 7, the overlapping panels both at the front and rear portions of the girdle extend completely from one side of the girdle to the other. In addition, the center seam at the front side of the girdle terminates at the point 120 rather than extending down to the high point 116 of the lower edges of the front panels.

As is the case with the girdle illustrated in FIG. 6, the weave line or line of stretch of the material in the lower panels 96, 98 is parallel to the lower edges of these panels; whereas in the upper panels 92, 94, the stretch or weave line of the fabric is horizontal or circumferential. As pointed out previously, with this particular arrangement of stretch or weave lines, the buttocks and lower abdomen are provided with an uplift action whereas the portion of the wearers body at and above the hip line tends to be circumferentially contracted and thereby flattened.

Thus, it will be seen that I have provided a girdle construction wherein the lower edges are contoured to follow the gluteus muscles so as to provide a maximum support with a minimum restriction; and the girdle as a whole is constructed such that a desirable uplift action is imparted to the buttocks.

Furthermore, in the arrangements illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6, the girdle as a whole is divided into two half sections, each of which is permitted to operate independently of the other. With this particular arrangement, each buttock is controlled separately by the girdle to provide complete freedom of movement without sacrificing support.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my prior copending application Serial No. 694,861, filed November 6, 1957.

I claim:

1. A girdle comprising a front portion and a rear portion connected together along their side edges to form a body encircling garment, the opposite side edges of said front and rear portions being of arcuate contour and curving inwardly and downwardly adjacent the lower portion of the garment such that when on the wearer the opening defined by the lower end of the garment is of smaller cross section than the cross section of the garment in a horizontal plane above said lower end in the lower portion of the garment, said front portion comprising a pair of similarly shaped panels oppositely arranged and connected together by a vertically extending center seam, said rear portion of the garment comprising a pair of similarly shaped, oppositely arranged panels having central overlapping portions, the overlapping portion of each of said last mentioned panels being secured to the overlapped portion of the other panel along a line spaced laterally inwardly from the adjacent side edge of the garment, the lower edges of the front and rear portions of the garment converging from the center front and the center back of the garment downwardly at each side of the garment such that when on the wearer, the garment extends generally from the waist downwardly at each side to adjacent the lower end portions of the gluteus maximus muscles at the thigh whereby the garment encircles each gluteus maximus muscle substantially completely to provide an uplift action thereto Without substantial circumferential restriction in the lower portion of the thighs.

2. A girdle as called for in claim 1 wherein the upper ends of the lower edges of the front panels terminate at the lower end of said center seam to provide at the front side of the garment a center fulcrum point adjacent the lower end thereof for each of said panels at the front of the garment.

3. A girdle as called for in claim 2 wherein the lower edges of the overlapping panels at the rear of the garment intersect in a plane below the lower end of said center seam at the front of the garment.

4. A girdle as called for in claim 3 wherein at least the lower portions of said panels at the front and rear of the garment are formed of a woven elastic material with the weave of the material being generally parallel to the inclined lower edges of the panels, said elastic portions of the panels being readily stretchable in a direction generally parallel to said inclined lower edges.

5. A girdle as called for in claim 4 wherein the upper portions of said panels at the front of the girdle are formed of a woven elastic material with the Weave of the material extending generally horizontally when on the wearer, said last mentioned elastic portions of the panels being readily stretchable in a direction circumferentially of the garment.

6. A girdle as called for in claim 1 wherein the lower edges of said panels are connected to the adjacent panel only at the upper and lower ends thereof whereby the upper ends of said lower edges provide fulcrum points at the front and rear of the garment for the lower end portions of said panels.

7. A girdle as called for in claim 6 including vertically extending, relatively narrow panels at each side of the garment connecting the opposite side edges of the front and rear portions of the garment.

8. A muscle conforming girdle comprising a single thickness front portion and a rear portion comprising a pair of panels having overlapping panel sections at the bottom center with the lower edges of the overlapping panel sections being unconnected in crossed relation, said front and rear portions forming a body encircling garment extending from the waist downwardly at each side a distance substantially equal to its width such that when on the wearer the garment terminates with its lower side edges adjacent and encompassing the lowermost portions of the gluteus muscles at the sides of the thighs, the single thickness front portion including two similar single thickness sections extending from the waist to the bottom of the garment with the lower edges of said sections meeting and being connected together at the bottom central front of the garment to form a fulcrum point located adjacent the pubic region when on the wearer, both the lower edges of the two sections of the front portion and the lower edges of the panels of the back portion converging and slanting upwardly and inwardly from each side of the garment to the bottom center front and the bottom center back, said upwardly and inwardly slanting lower edges of the back panels encompassing when on the wearer at least a portion of each buttock and the lower end portions of the gluteus maximus muscles at the thigh whereby the lower outer portions of the back panels in combination with the upwardly and inwardly slanting lower edges of the front sections and said fulcrum point provide an uplift action to the buttocks without substantial circumferential restriction.

9. A girdle as called for in claim 8 wherein the lower edges of the panels of the front and back portions slant upwardly and inwardly at an angle of at least 15 from the horizontal and the point of convergence of the lower edges of the front portion of the garment is disposed slightly above the point of convergence of the lower edges of the overlapping panels at the rear portion of the garment.

10. A girdle as called for in claim 8 wherein sections of the garment are of arcuate contour and curve inwardly and downwardly adjacent the lower portion of the garment such that when on the wearer the opening defined by the lower end of the garment is of smaller cross section than the cross section of the garment in a horizontal plane above said lower end in the lower portion of the garment.

11. A girdle as called for in claim 8 wherein the panels of the front portion of the garment meet at a vertical center seam which extends downwardly to the point of convergence of the lower edges of the front portion of the garment.

12. A girdle as called for in claim 10 wherein at least the lower portions of the front and rear portions of the garment are formed of a woven elastic material with the weave of the material being generally parallel to the inclined lower edges of the front and rear portions of the garment, said elastic portions being readily stretchable in a direction generally parallel to said inclined lower edges.

13. A girdle as called for in claim 12 wherein the upper portion of the front portion of the garment is formed of a woven elastic material with the weave of the material extending generally horizontally when on the wearer, said last mentioned elastic portion being readily stretchable in a direction circumferentially of the garment.

14. A garment as called for in claim 8 including a pair of side panels of relatively narrow width connecting the opposite side edges of the front and rear portions of the garment.

15. A garment as called for in claim 8 wherein one end of each of said overlapping panels is secured to the other panel along a generally vertically extending line spaced laterally inwardly from the adjacent side edge of the garment and terminating at the lower edge of the overlapping panels to form a fulcrum point on the other panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Ulman May 8, 1928 Gould June 2, 1953 Studler Aug. 14, 1956 Plehn July 7, 1959 Schaumer Mar. 22, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Apr. 17, 1957 

